Do GPS enabled phones make for a better choice than a dedicated handheld and in-car GPS navigator? Find out here.
Despite being a relatively fresh feature in mobile phones, GPS is popping up in most new multimedia phones nowadays. Most of these phones come with a GPS sensor to use different location-based content apps, like emergency location or buddy beacons, rather than compete with in-car GPS navigators.
Still, a few phones out there offer strong GPS sensors and snappy software, which in the long run make them bound to compete with dedicated handheld navigators. Make sure to check out the full reviews of the phones featured below, to get a good feeling of their overall performance.
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GPS SCOREBOARD
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| Name |
Interface |
Maps |
Navigation |
Points of interest |
Total score |
| Nokia N95 |
90% |
90% |
90% |
90% |
90% |
| LG VX8700 |
75% |
80% |
80% |
85% |
80% |
| Motorola RAZR Maxx Ve |
75% |
80% |
80% |
85% |
80% |
| Motorola SLVR L7c |
80% |
75% |
80% |
65% |
75% |
| Helio Ocean |
80% |
85% |
40% |
80% |
70% |
Nokia N95 - GPS score: 90%
Though it takes a moment to warm up and find your location, once the GPS sensor on the Nokia N95 is tracking you, it can be tenacious. The sensor and included software are easily the best we've seen on a phone, even with the additional subscription fee for navigation and voice directions.
The map works as a 2D top-down or 3D map, and it tracked our location quickly and accurately, turning with us as we went through intersections. The zooming globe map clearly takes advantage of the graphical firepower of the N95, as visual effects are smooth, and the map zooms better than any map we've seen. Read the full review »
LG VX8700 - GPS score: 80%
We're not huge fans of VZ Navigator to begin with, though it admittedly works fine in a pinch. Still, the VX8700 had a GPS sensor that was quite sensitive. It had no problem finding us even inside our office, buried in the cubicles, with only a slight view of the window. The phone had a bit of a delay tracking us through turns, but updated quickly. The interface also seemed to be refreshed since the last time we saw VZ Navigator, with cleaner looking icons and a map that had fewer jaggies. Read the full review »
Motorola RAZR Maxx Ve - GPS score: 80%
GPS on the phone worked very well, with a sensor that was sensitive enough to pick up our location even in our office's cubicles. A full review of its GPS software, VZ Navigator, can be found here. Read the full review »
Motorola L7c - GPS score: 75%
GPS is handled through TeleNav (read our review of TeleNav here, and the sensor is surprisingly sharp. Our phone found its location in a cubicle buried in our office, where most phones are unable to pick up a satellite. Read the full review »
Helio Ocean - GPS score: 70%
The GPS sensor on the phone was very strong, often able to find us indoors. We're waiting for a second device to really give the Buddy Beacon app a run for its money, but until then, we're still intrigued by the possibilities. Google Maps is still the wrong application for driving directions, as it doesn't handle live turn-by-turn navigation and it won't speak your directions to you, both necessities while driving. Read the full review »
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